Photographic camera system

ABSTRACT

A photographic camera system includes a photographic camera that can successively expose a photographic film in different frame sizes and an automatic printer for automatically printing the processed photographic film exposed with those different frame sizes. The camera varies the aspect of an exposure opening in the camera body and the film is fed for a length corresponding to the selected aspect by detecting a hole located in a marginal area of the film. The photographic camera magnetically or optically records at a location away from the hole an aspect information signal indicative of the selected aspect of the exposed frame on the photographic film, and the automatic printer automatically prints the photographic film using the magnetically or optically recorded aspect information signal detected from the photographic film.

The present application is a continuation of pending application Ser.No. 08/756,599 filed Nov. 27, 1996, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,729,777, whichis a division of application Ser. No. 08/444,681 filed May 19, 1995, nowU.S. Pat. No. 5,600,386, which is a continuation in part of applicationSer. No. 08/329,546 filed Oct. 26, 1994, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,583,591,which is a continuation in part of application Ser. No. 08/026,415 filedMar. 4, 1993, now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a photographic camera system forproducing pictures having various frame sizes, and more particularly toa photographic camera using a specialized photographic film and a filmprinting device for printing the processed photographic film having asuccession of frames of different sizes that have been photographed bythe camera.

2. Description of the Background

The photographic film that is in the most widespread use today is 35-mmfilm (system 135) as provided for by Japanese Industrial Standards (JIS)and International Organization of Standardization (IOS).

U.S. Pat. No. 5,049,908 describes a photographic camera and a filmtherefor, with the film being of a 35-mm size devoid of sprocket holesof the size used in present 35-mm films and having an effective imagearea of about 30 mm across the film, thereby providing an increasedeffective usable film area.

More specifically, ignoring dimensional tolerances, present 35-mm filmsfor use in general photography have a width of 35 mm between oppositelongitudinal edges and include a series of film-transport perforationsor sprocket holes defined along the opposite longitudinal edges of thefilm. The film-transport perforations are spaced 25 mm across the filmand have a pitch of 4.75 mm. Frames on such a present 35-mm film are ofa rectangular shape having a width of 25 mm across the film and a lengthof 36 mm along the film. The frames have a pitch of 38 mm, which iseight times larger than the pitch of the film-transport perforations.

As described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,049,908, some modern photographic filmcameras are electronically controlled to provide motor-driven operationwith high accuracy, and it has been experimentally confirmed that thefilm can be transported quite accurately without requiring the largesprocket wheels and film perforations that are found in most presentcameras and films. In the system described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,049,908,the film-transport perforations are not present in the 35-mmphotographic film, thereby increasing the available frame width acrossthe film up to the regions where such film-transport perforations werelocated. The proposed film thus has an increased effective image areafor improved image quality. This patent describes four sizes that areavailable for frames that can be exposed on a 35-mm film free offilm-transport perforations.

According to one size, a frame that can be exposed in an effective imagearea of the 35-mm film has a width of 30 mm across the film and a lengthof 40 mm along the film. The frames of such a size have a pitch of 42.0mm, for example. The frame size and pitch are selected to matchspecifications of the present television broadcasting system, forexample, the NTSC system. Therefore, the frames have an aspect ratio of3:4.

Another frame size described in that patent is based on High-DefinitionTelevision (HDTV) specifications, in which frames have a width of 30 mmand a length of 53.3 mm and a pitch of 57.75 mm, for example. The aspectratio of the frames having that size is 9:16.

The above-mentioned frame sizes are full-frame sizes, and the other twoframe sizes are half-frame sizes. According to one of the half-framesizes, frames have a width of 30 mm and a length of 22.5 mm and a pitchof 26.2 mm, for example, to match present television broadcasting systemspecifications. According to the other half-frame size, frames have awidth of 30 mm and a length of 16.9 mm and a pitch of 21.0 mm, forexample, to match HDTV specifications.

Film with the above four frame formats is stored in the same filmcartridge as presently available 35-mm film.

Because the frames in either of the above frame formats have a width of30 mm, there are unexposed areas of about 2.5 mm between the frames andalong the opposite longitudinal edges of the film. These unexposed areasmay be used to keep the film flat, control the film, and write and readdata when taking pictures.

The proposed camera may be relatively small and lightweight, because itdoes not require film-transport sprocket wheels.

Films that are actually collected in processing laboratories areprocessed either simultaneously in a batch or individually. In asimultaneous batch process, several thousand films are processed perhour at a high rate to realize economics of scale for reducing theprinting cost. Specifically, a plurality of exposed films are collectedin the processing laboratory and are spliced end to end to form a long,continuous film strip, which is then stored in a film magazine andsubsequently processed.

If the films that are spliced into the continuous strip contain framesexposed in different frame formats, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.5,049,908, then the long single film stored in the film magazinecontains different frame sizes, thereby making printing a problem.

U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,384,774 and 5,066,971 propose cameras capable ofswitching between half and full frame sizes at the time the film isexposed. When film exposed using these proposed cameras is spliced intoa long, single, film strip for simultaneous batch processing, thecontinuous film strip also contains different frame sizes.

The processing laboratories are therefore required to form notchesindicative of frame centers for automatically printing spliced filmswith different frame sizes after they are developed. For example, asdisclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,557,591, a human operator manually notchesa side edge of a spliced film and, hence, the notches are required tocontrol the feed of the film. With the disclosed process, it isimpossible to process several thousand films per hour, however, the costof processing exposed film is relatively high. As a consequence, filmswith different frame sizes may not be accepted by processinglaboratories in Japan.

Many processing laboratories all over the world also do not accept filmswith frames exposed in half size because they do not want differentframe sizes to be contained in a single spliced film that is stored in asingle film magazine for subsequent processing and printing. Thisproblem arises because the different frame sizes can be recognized onlyafter the film has been developed. One solution would be to applymarking seals to exposed films so that the films of different framesizes thereof can be distinguished and sorted out for individualprocessing and printing. Nevertheless, use of marking seals would notessentially solve the problem, because it would be difficult to supplysuch marking seals consistently over a number of years.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide avariable frame size photographic system that can eliminate theabove-noted drawbacks inherent in prior proposed systems.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a photographiccamera that can expose a photographic film in different frame sizes asdesired.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a photographicfilm printer for automatically printing successive photographic films,even if they contain different frame sizes.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided aphotographic camera system including a photographic camera having acamera body, a first housing disposed in the camera body for housing aphotographic film cartridge, a second housing disposed in the camerabody for housing a photographic film drawn from the photographic filmcartridge, a film feed device disposed in the camera body for feedingthe photographic film between the first and second housings by detectinga hole located in a marginal edge of the film, an exposure devicedisposed in the camera body for exposing an exposure area of thephotographic film fed by the film feed device to an image of a subjectbetween the first and second housings, and a recording device disposedin the camera body for optically or magnetically recording an aspectinformation signal away from a hole and indicating a selected aspect ofthe exposure area. The photographic camera system also includes aphotographic film printer having a printer body, a light source and avariable mask system, a detecting device disposed on the printer bodyfor detecting the hole and generating a hole detecting signal anddetecting the aspect information that was optically or magneticallyrecorded on the photographic film for generating an aspect informationsignal, a film feed control device disposed on the printer body forcontrolling feeding of the photographic film based on the exposureposition control signal detected by the hole detecting signal, and aprinting device disposed on the printer body for varying an openingwidth of a mask that is used to print the image of the subject in theexposure area of the photographic film on a print paper, depending onthe aspect information signal.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is alsoprovided a photographic camera including a first housing for housing aphotographic film cartridge, a second housing for housing a photographicfilm drawn from the photographic film cartridge, a film feed device forfeeding the photographic film between the first and second housings andpositioning a frame for exposure by detecting a hole formed in amarginal edge of the film, an exposure device for exposing an image of asubject to be recorded on the photographic film, and a recording devicefor optically or magnetically recording aspect information indicative ofthe aspect of the frame at a position away from the hole.

The present invention in another aspect also provides a photographicfilm printer for printing on photosensitive photographic paper aprocessed photographic film including a printer body, a light source anda variable mask system mounted on the printer body for exposing thephotographic paper, a detecting device disposed on the printer body fordetecting a hole formed in a marginal area of the processed photographicfilm and generating a detecting hole signal and for detecting aspectinformation recorded on the processed photographic film and generating adetected aspect information signal, a film feed control unit disposed onthe printer body for controlling feeding of the processed photographicfilm based on the hole detecting signal detected by the detectingdevice, and a printing device disposed on the printer body for varyingan opening width of the variable mask system that is used to print animage of a subject in an exposure area of the photographic film on aprint paper, depending on the detected aspect information signal.

The above and other objects, features, and advantages of the presentinvention will become apparent from the following description ofillustrative embodiments thereof to be read in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals represent thesame or similar objects.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary front elevational view of a 35-mm film that hasbeen exposed using a 35-mm photographic camera according to anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary front elevational view of another 35-mm filmthat has been exposed using an embodiment of the 35-mm photographiccamera of the present invention;

FIGS. 3A and 3B are elevational views of 35-mm film cartridges that canbe used in one embodiment of the 35-mm photographic camera of thepresent invention;

FIGS. 4A and 4B are elevational views of 35-mm film cartridges that canbe used in another embodiment of the 35-mm photographic camera of thepresent invention;

FIG. 5 is a rear elevational view of the 35-mm photographic camera ofone embodiment of the present invention with a rear lid removed;

FIG. 6 is an elevational view of an inner surface of a rear lid of the35-mm photographic camera of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VII--VII of FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of a control system for one embodiment of the35-mm photographic camera. according to the present invention using thefilm of FIGS. 3A and 3B;

FIG. 9 is a rear elevational view of the 35-mm photographic camera ofanother embodiment of the present invention with the rear lid removed;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a portion of the camera shownin FIG. 7;

FIGS. 11A through 11J are fragmentary front elevational views showingthe positional relationships of frames exposed on a 35-mm film using the35-mm photographic camera according to the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a block diagram of a control system for the other embodimentof the 35-mm photographic camera according to the present inventionusing the film of FIGS. 4A and 4B;

FIG. 13 is an elevational view of an automatic printer for printing onphotosensitive paper a processed 35-mm film that was exposed using theembodiment of the 35-mm photographic camera according to the presentinvention;

FIG. 14 is a block diagram of a control system used in the embodiment ofthe automatic printer shown in FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is a block diagram of a control system for another embodiment ofthe printer according to the present invention;

FIGS. 16A through 16D are fragmentary front elevational views showingthe relationship between a 35-mm film and sensors in the automaticprinter shown in FIG. 13;

FIGS. 17A and 17B are flowcharts of a program that is performed by amicroprocessor of the control system shown in FIG. 14;

FIGS. 18A and 18B are representative of the relative sizes ofnegative-carrier variable slits in the automatic printer;

FIGS. 19A and 19B are representations showing the relative sizes ofvariable paper masks in the automatic printer;

FIGS. 20A through 20C are rear elevational views of a 35-mm photographiccamera with a rear lid removed, according to another embodiment of thepresent invention; and

FIG. 21 is a rear elevational view of a 35-mm photographic camera with arear lid removed, according to still another embodiment of the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A 35-mm photographic film 1 that can be used in a 35-mm photographiccamera according to the present invention is described with reference toFIGS. 1, 2, 3A, and 3B, in which FIGS. 1 and 2 show 35-mm photographicfilm 1 after it has been exposed, and FIGS. 3A and 3B show 35-mmphotographic film 1 before being exposed.

As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the 35-mm photographic film 1 is stored ina film cartridge 16 and has an end extending out of the film cartridge16. Images that are photographed on the 35-mm photographic film 1 areturned upside down by the lenses, so that the upper end of an image ispositioned on a lower portion of the photographic film 1. FIG. 3B showsby way of example a photographed image of a subject in broken lines,which appears to be turned upside down on the photographic film 1.

Each of the photographic films 1 shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 3A, and 3B has aseries of film position detecting holes 19 defined along an unexposedmarginal edge area thereof, which has a width of about 2.5 mm. Thisunexposed marginal area is used to control the film, to read data, andto write data when taking a picture. The film position detecting holes19 have a diameter of about 1 mm and are spaced at a constant,predetermined pitch. The pitch of the film position detecting holes 19in the photographic film 1 shown in FIG. 1 is 5.25 mm, for example, andthe pitch of the film position detecting holes 19 in the photographicfilm 1 shown in FIG. 2 is 6.28 mm.

The film position detecting holes 19 can be replaced by magnetic marks19' spaced at a predetermined constant pitch and made by a suitablemagnetic head on a magnetic edge portion 19" formed on the unexposedfilm. The magnetic marks 19' are shown as broken lines on the magneticstrip 19" in FIGS. 4A and 4B, because they are not actually visable.Alternatively, the marks 19' could be formed as small dots of magneticmaterial, such as iron oxide, deposited on the unexposed film anddetected by the magnetic head.

Distances by which the different photographic films 1 with the filmposition detecting holes 19 or magnetic marks 19' spaced at the pitchesof 5.25 mm and 6.28 mm are advanced to feed frames of different framesizes are given in Table 1 below.

                  TABLE 1    ______________________________________    Frame sizes    (Width × length)                   Pitch -   6.28 mm                               Pitch = 5.25 mm    ______________________________________    NTSC-matched frame                   43.96 =  6.28 × 7                               42.0 = 5.25 × 8    size (30 mm × 40                   pitches     pitches    mm), full size    HDTV-matched frame                   56.52 =  6.28 × 9                                  57.75 =  5.25 × 11    size (30 mm × 53.3                    pitches    pitches    mm), full size    HDTV-matched frame                   18.84 =  6.28 × 3                                  21.0 = 5.25 × 4    size (30 mm × 16.9                    pitches    pitches    mm), half size    NTSC-matched frame                   25.12 =  6.28 × 4                                  26.25 - 5.25 × 5    size (30 mm × 22.5                   pitches     pitches    mm), half size    ______________________________________

The photographic film 1 shown in FIG. 3A has film position detectingholes 19 that will be positioned along an upper marginal edge area afterthe photographic film is exposed, however, no tongue is provided at theleading end, so that no tongue-removing process will subsequently berequired. Because no tongue-removing process will be required, thesubsequent processing of the photographic film 1 is less costly. Thisapplies to the film shown in FIG. 4A as well.

The photographic film 1 shown in FIG. 3B also has film positiondetecting holes 19 that will be positioned in an upper marginal edgearea thereof after the photographic film is exposed, and has a tongue atits leading end on its lower portion. The tongue at the leading end ofthe photographic film 1 is vertically opposite in position to the tongueof an ordinary 35-mm photographic film that is now generallycommercially available. If a photocoupler is used in a photographiccamera for detecting the film position detecting holes 19, then when thephotographic film 1 is loaded into the photographic camera, the marginaledge with the film position detecting holes 19 is not required to bemanually inserted into the photocoupler, but is automatically insertedinto the photocoupler when the photographic film 1 is wound by a filmtransport mechanism in the photographic camera. This also applies to thefilm shown in FIG. 4B.

An embodiment of a photographic camera that can use the photographicfilms 1 shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 3A, and 3B is shown and described withreference to FIGS. 5 through 8 and 10. FIG. 5 is a rear elevation of thephotographic camera with the rear lid or cover removed. The lid is shownin FIG. 6. The photographic camera has a dark box 4 including acartridge housing 17 for housing the film cartridge 16, which is of aknown structure, an exposure opening 7 near the cartridge housing 17 andthrough which the photographic film 1 can be exposed to light passingthrough a camera lens, aperture, and shutter not shown in FIG. 5, and afilm housing 18 for housing the photographic film 1 after it has beenexposed.

The photographic film 1 that is unwound from the film cartridge 16housed in the cartridge housing 17 is fed over the exposure opening 7while being transversely limited in motion by upper and lower respectivepairs of film guides 30, 31, and is then moved into the film housing 18after being exposed.

The film housing 18 has a guide roller 32 for automatically setting orloading the photographic film 1, and a film takeup spool 9 rotatable bya motor, shown at 10 in FIG. 8, for winding the exposed photographicfilm 1 thereon.

The photographic camera has a light-emitting diode (LED) 5a positionedbetween the lower film guides 30, 31 for detecting the film positiondetecting holes 19, and a photodetector, shown in FIG. 6 at 5b, disposedon a pressure plate of the rear lid and positioned in registry with theLED 5a across the photographic film 1. The photodetector 5b has adiameter of 1.5 mm, for example.

The LED 5a emits infrared radiation having a wavelength of 940 nm, whichis different from those radiation wavelengths to which the photographicfilm 1 is sensitive. Referring to FIG. 8, the LED 5a and thephotodetector 5b jointly make up a hole sensor 5 that applies an outputsignal to a counter in a system controller 8 that comprises amicrocomputer. In this way, the system controller 8 can recognize theposition of the photographic film 1 over the exposure opening 7. The LED5a and the photodetector 5b may be alternatively replaced with aphotocoupler that also comprises an LED and a photodetector but whichare positioned in confronting relationship, as described hereinbelow.

Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 9 the LED 5a can be replaced by amagnetic head 5c that operates to sense the magnetic marks 19', shown inFIGS. 4A and 4B, that are on the marginal edge area 19" of the unexposedfilm.

In FIG. 5, the exposure area opening 7 has its size defined by left andright movable masks 15 that are laterally movable over the width of theexposure opening 7 from opposite sides thereof. The size of the exposureopening 7 in the longitudinal direction of the photographic film 1 canselectively be changed to four different dimensions of 53.33 mm, 40.00mm, 22.5 mm, and 16.90 mm as indicated by the four pairs of broken linesin FIG. 5.

As shown in FIGS. 7 and 10, the left and right movable masks 15 areretractable into left and right side walls, respectively, that arepositioned on opposite sides of the exposure opening 7 and extendsubstantially perpendicularly to the photographic film 1 as it extendsover the exposure opening 7. As shown in FIG. 8, two linear toothed bars33 are attached to the respective lower edges of the movable masks 15and held in mesh with respective drive feed gears 34 of a gearbox 35,much like a rack and pinion assembly. When the gears 34 of the gearbox35 are driven to rotate the linear toothed bars 33, and hence themovable masks 15, are linearly moved over the exposure opening 7.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 7, the photographic camera has a frame sizesetting switch 6 which can manually be turned by the user of the camerato produce a command signal indicative of a selected frame size which isone of the frame sizes described above in Table 1. When the user selectsa frame size with the frame size setting switch 6, the frame sizesetting switch 6 applies a command signal to the,system controller 8,which then supplies a control signal to achieve the desired frame sizethrough a stepping motor driving circuit 13 to a stepping motor 14. Thestepping motor 14 is energized to rotate the feed gears 34 to move themovable masks 15. At the same time that the movable masks 15 move, thehole sensor 5 produces and supplies a detected film position signal tothe system controller 8, which processes the supplied film positionsignal to generate a control signal. The system controller 8 thensupplies the control signal through an amplifier 36 to a motor 10, whichrotates the film spool 9 to take-up the photographic film 1 over apredetermined length.

At this time, the length over which the photographic film 1 is drivencorresponds to the distance that is determined by the frame size settingswitch 6. The feeding of the photographic film 1 is described below withreference to FIGS. 11A through 11E, which show examples in which thehole pitch is 6.28 mm and the photographic film 1 is to be exposed in anHDTV-matched full-frame size of 30 mm×53.3 mm and an NTSC-matchedfull-frame size of 30 mm×40 mm.

FIG. 11A shows a portion of the photographic film 1 as it is exposed insuccessive NTSC-matched full frames. When the photographic film 1 is fedfor seven pitches of the holes 19, a frame area of 30 mm×40 mm is madeavailable for exposure through the exposure opening 7. To switch from anNTSC-matched full-frame size to an HDTV-matched full-frame size, thephotographic film 1 is fed for eight pitches of the holes 19, as shownin FIG. 11B, to make a frame area of 30 mm×53.3 mm available forexposure through the exposure opening 7. To expose the photographic film1 in successive HDTV-matched full frames, the photographic film 1 is fedfor nine pitches of the holes 19, as shown in FIG. 11C, to make a framearea of 30 mm×53.3 mm available for exposure through the exposureopening 7. To switch from an HDTV-matched full-frame size to anNTSC-matched full-frame size, the photographic film 1 is fed for eightpitches of the holes 19, as shown in FIG. 11D, to make a frame area of30 mm×40 mm available for exposure through the exposure opening 7.

To change frame sizes, the system controller 8 controls the motor 10 asfollows: When switching from an NTSC-matched full-frame size to anHDTV-matched full-frame size, the photographic film 1 is first drivenfor seven pitches of the holes 19 and is then driven for one additionalhole pitch. When switching from an HDTV-matched full-frame size to anNTSC-matched full-frame size, the photographic film 1 is first drivenforward for nine pitches of the holes 19 and is then driven backward forone pitch.

When changing frame sizes, the photographic film 1 may be driven for adifferent distance or a different number of pitches, such as ten pitchesof the holes 19, as shown in FIG. 11E. FIG. 11E shows the photographicfilm 1 being constantly fed for a length equal to ten pitches of theholes 19. If the film cartridge can accommodate an increased length offilm and the film can be used to record extra length frames, thisconstant length feeding approach is suitable for combinations of anHDTV-matched full-frame format and an NTSC-matched full-frame formatalong the length of the film. This constant length feeding can be alsoused with the film as shown in FIGS. 11F and 11G.

As illustrated in FIG. 11F, FIG. 11G and FIG. 11H, the distance betweenthe holes 19 in these three figures corresponds to ten pitches of theholes 19 in FIG. 11A. FIG. 11F shows a photographic film 1 as it isexposed in successive NTSC-matched full-frames. A frame-size signal 12ais recorded in a center of pitches between holes 19. To switch from anNTSC-matched full-frame to an HDTV-matched full frame, the photographicfilm 1 is fed for one pitch, as shown in FIG. 11G. A frame size signal12a is then recorded at a position which is separated by a constantdistance from a hole 19, and in this embodiment that distance is about6.28 mm. The frame size signal may be detected by the printer using theknown positional relationship between hole 19 and the frame size signal.FIG. 11H shows a photographic film 1 as it would be exposed whenswitching from the HDTV-matched full format to the NTSC-matched fullformat. In FIG. 11H the frame size signal 12a and the NTSC and HDTVframes 3 are recorded in a center of the pitches between successiveholes 19.

FIG. 11H, FIG. 11I and FIG. 11J all show other recording formats for theframe size signal. These three formats can be used in both directions ofthe film feeding of the camera. For example, one camera feeds a film 1from a cartridge housing to a film housing after exposing a frame 3 ofthe subject on a film 1. Another camera feeds the film back from thefilm housing to the cartridge housing after exposing the film. For bothtypes of camera, a frame size signal 12a and a frame 3 can be exposed ata position which is a constant distance from the holes 19 on both sidesof the frame 3.

FIG. 11I and FIG. 11J show a combination of two different hole pitcheswhich are a short distance and a long distance. FIG. 11I shows a formatwhere a frame size signal 12a is exposed on a right side of a frame 3and is a known constant distance away from the holes 19 on both sides.FIG. 11J shows a format where a frame size signal 12a is exposed on aleft side of a frame 3 and is a constant distance away from the holes onboth sides.

As shown in FIGS. 11A through 11J, the system controller of thephotographic camera controls the feeding of the photographic film 1 suchthat the photographic film 1 will not be exposed in overlapping frames,even when different frame sizes are successively exposed.

The procedure described in relation to FIGS. 11A-11E applies equally tothe magnetic marks 19' present on the film shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B.

FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate the photographic film 1 whose effectiveexposure areas have been exposed in frames 3 of different sizes. In FIG.1, the photographic film 1 has been exposed in an HDTV-matchedfull-frame size, having a width of 30 mm, a length of 53.3 mm, andaspect ratio of 9:16, and in an NTSC-matched full-frame size, having awidth of 30 mm, a length of 40 mm) whose aspect ratio is 3:4. The holes19 defined along the upper marginal edge of the photographic film 1 havea pitch of 5.25 mm.

In FIG. 2, the photographic film 1 has also been exposed in anHDTV-matched full-frame size and an NTSC-matched full-frame size,however, unlike FIG. 1, the holes 19 defined in the upper marginal edgeof the photographic film 1 have a pitch of 6.28 mm. In FIG. 2, one frameof an HDTV-matched full-frame size corresponds to nine pitches of theholes 19, and one frame of an NTSC-matched full-frame size correspondsto seven pitches of the holes 19. Since these pitches are odd-numbered,a hole 19 may be positioned in alignment with the center of the frame,so that the center of the frame can easily be detected.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 8, the photographic camera has a shutter releasebutton 37. When the shutter release button 37 is depressed, the systemcontroller 8 controls the size of the exposure area and supplies acontrol signal to a mark recording circuit 38 for recording a centralmark, a so-called effective exposure area position signal, indicative ofthe center of the frame 3 and also supplies a control signal to a framenumber recording circuit 39 for recording a frame number. The markrecording circuit 38 energizes an LED 40 positioned at the lowerfilm-guide pair 30, 31 for recording a central mark 40a, shown in FIGS.1 and 2, representing the center of the exposed frame 3. The framenumber recording circuit 39 energizes an LED 41 positioned at the lowerfilm guide pair 30, 31 for recording a frame number 41a, shown in FIGS.1 and 2, representing the frame number of the exposed frame 3. The framenumber 41a can be recorded such that it agrees with an actual framenumber.

Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 12 in place of LED 40 a magnetic head40' can be employed to record the center mark on the marginal area 19"on the unexposed film. Similarly, the frame number can be recorded usinganother magnetic head 41'.

The system controller 8 also supplies a control signal to a frame sizerecording circuit 11 for recording a frame size signal, a so-calledeffective exposure area width signal, indicative of the frame size ofthe exposed frame 3. The frame size recording circuit 11 energizes anLED 12 positioned at the lower film guide pair 30, 31 for recording aframe size signal 12a, shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 12, in place of LED 12 a magnetic head12' can be employed to record the frame size signal on the marginal area19" on the unexposed film.

The magnetic head 5c that senses the magnetic marks 19' on the filmshown in FIGS. 4A and 4B is connected to the system controller 8 througha buffer amplifier 5d or a similar playback amplifier.

The LED 12 may be composed of four LED elements which are selectivelyenergized to record one of the frame size signals 12a, which representthe frame size set by the frame size setting switch 6. The various framesize signals 12a are shown by way of example in Table 2 below and areknown as aspect signals.

                  TABLE 2    ______________________________________    Frame Size        Frame size signal 12a    ______________________________________    HDTV-matched full-frame size                      | | | |    NTSC-matched full-frame size                      | | |    NTSC-matched half-frame size                      | |    HDTV-matched half-frame size                      |    ______________________________________

The central mark 40a and the frame size signal 12a supply informationregarding the frame position and the frame size to an automatic printer,described hereinbelow, for controlling the automatic printer when theexposed and processed film is printed.

While frame sizes can be recognized by measuring the distances betweenadjacent central marks 40a when the exposed film is printed, theprocessing speed of the automatic printer can be increased by using theframe size signal 12a.

At the same time that the photographic film 1 is exposed, the systemcontroller 8 supplies an information signal to an information recordingcircuit 42 for recording desired information. The information recordingcircuit 42 energizes an LED 43 positioned at the upper film guide pair30, 31 for recording such information 43a on the lower marginal edge,shown in see FIGS. 1 and 2, of the photographic film 1. The information43a may be information that is supplied from the camera lens and thecamera itself upon exposure or could consist of the exposure date, theperson who took the picture, an exposure condition, or other informationthat the user has entered through an input device 44, such as a keypad,on the outer surface of the rear lid of the camera body 10. The amountof information 43a, that is, the number of characters that can berecorded, is dependent upon the frame size, and is displayed on adisplay panel 44a of the input device 44. The LED 43 has a number of LEDelements that are selectively energized depending on the frame size.

An analysis has been made to determine the optimum position where theinformation 43a should be recorded and the optimum position where theholes 19 or magnetic marks 19' are defined from the standpoints of theuser's convenience and a psychological effect that those positions haveon the user. The results of the analysis are as follows:

(1) If marginal edges outside of the effective exposure area of the filmare available as a band for recording user's information, then theinformation should more preferably be positioned on the lower marginaledge of the print paper, rather than on the upper marginal edge.

(2) Study of the developing and printing processes in processinglaboratories indicates that in many cases information about the filmitself is printed in many cases on film negatives, such that the filminformation will be positioned on the upper marginal edge of the printpaper. It is preferable not to mix the film information and the band forrecording user's information.

From the above results, it is preferable to position the film positiondetecting holes 19 upwardly of the effective exposure area of the filmwhen it is exposed.

As described above with reference to FIGS. 5 through 8, the photographiccamera according to the present invention has a detecting means 5a, 5bfor detecting the feeding of the photographic film 1, a film controlsystem 8, 9, 10 for controlling the distance by which the photographicfilm 1 moves and for driving the photographic film 1 for a lengthcorresponding to the width of the selected exposure opening 7, based ona detected signal from the detecting means 5a, 5b, and for controlling asignal recording device 8, 11, 12, 38, 40 disposed near the exposureopening 7 for recording a signal indicative of the position of theexposure opening 7 on the photographic film 1 when the photographic film1 is exposed through the exposure opening 7.

After the photographic film 1 is exposed using the photographic camera,the processed photographic film 1 bears control signals that arerecorded in a signal recording area 21, shown in see FIG. 1, thereof andthat will be used when the photographic film 1 is printed. Therefore,even if the developed photographic film 1 contains frames of differentframe sizes, it can be automatically printed by an automatic printerwithout requiring individual adjustment.

The photographic camera according to the present invention also has afilm control system 8, 9, 10 for controlling the feeding or driving ofthe photographic film 1, and an opening control system 8, 13, 14, 15 forvarying the width of the exposure opening 7 along the photographicfilm 1. At least when the width of the exposure opening 7 changes from asmaller dimension to a larger dimension, the film control system 8, 9,10 drives the photographic film 1 for a length corresponding to theselected width of the exposure opening 7.

Therefore, the width of the exposure opening 7 is variable, and thetake-up or driving of the photographic film 1 is controlled depending onthe width of the exposure opening 7. The photographic camera can exposethe photographic film 1 successively in desired frame sizes which maydiffer one from another without adjacent frames overlapping each other.

As shown in FIG. 1, the photographic film 1 used in the photographiccamera according to the present invention has a signal recording area 21located between an effective exposure area 20 and a marginal edgethereof for magnetically or optically recording control signals, whichwill be used when the photographic film 1 is processed and printed. Thefilm 1 has holes 19 or magnetic marks 19' defined in an upper marginaledge area thereof between the effective exposure area 20 and themarginal edge for detecting the distance by which the photographic film1 has been moved.

As shown in FIG. 13, an automatic printer for automatically printingprocessed photographic film 1 that has been exposed using a camera asdescribed above has a printer body that supports a paper supply reel 45for supplying the sensitized print paper 46, a paper deck or platen 47for supporting the print paper 46 supplied from the paper supply reel45, a variable paper mask 48 for determining the size of a print papersegment on which an image is to be printed, a paper holder plate 49 forholding the print paper 46 down against the paper deck 47, a paper feedor drive roller 50 for driving the print paper 46, and a paper takeupreel 51 for winding the exposed print paper 46.

The printer body of the automatic printer also supports a film supplyreel 52 for supplying the processed photographic film 1, a film deck orplaten 53 for supporting the photographic film 1 supplied from the filmsupply reel 52, a negative-carrier variable slit 54, a negative holderplate 55 for positioning the negative down against the film deck 53, afilm feed or drive roller 56 for driving the photographic film 1, a filmtakeup reel 57 for winding the exposed and processed photographic film1, a lens 58 positioned above the negative holder plate 55, a bellows 59supporting the lens 58 and positioned below the paper deck 47, a lamp 60disposed below the film deck 53, a black shutter 61 positioned above thelamp 60, a filter assembly 62 composed of yellow, magenta, and cyan (Y,M, C) filters, and a diffusion box 63 disposed between the filterassembly 62 and the film deck 53.

The negative holder plate 55 supports a frame size sensor S1 fordetecting the frame size signal 12a recorded on the photographic film 1and a frame center sensor S2 for detecting the central mark 40a recordedon the photographic film 1 that indicates the center of a frame.

Upon detection of the central mark 40a of the frame 3 with the framecenter sensor S2, the film drive roller 56 is controlled to drive thefilm to align the frame center with the center of the negative-carriervariable slit 54. The variable paper mask 48 and the negative-carriervariable slit 54 are controlled based on the frame size signal 12a thatis detected by the frame size sensor S1.

If the frame size is an HDTV-matched frame size, for example, thenegative-carrier variable slit 54 is set to dimensions as shown in FIG.18A, and the variable paper mask 48 is set to dimensions as shown inFIG. 19A. If the frame size is an NTSC-matched frame size, for example,the negative-carrier variable slit 54 is set to dimensions as shown inFIG. 18B, and the variable paper mask 48 is set to dimensions as shownin FIG. 19B.

A control system for the automatic printer is shown in FIG. 14, in whichthe frame size sensor S1 and the frame center sensor S2 comprisephotocouplers, respectively, for detecting the frame size signal 12a andthe central mark 40a, respectively, that are recorded in the marginaledge area of the photographic film 1.

On the other hand, the optical sensors S1 and S2 may be comprised ofrespective magnetic heads S1' and S2', as shown in FIG. 15, that readthe frame size signal and the frame center signal that are magneticallyrecorded on the marginal area 19" of the unexposed film.

The frame center is determined based on the central mark 40a detected bythe frame center sensor S2, and the frame size of the frame 3 whoseframe center is determined by a microprocessor 64 of the control systembased on the frame size signal 12a that is read by the frame size sensorS1 before the central mark 40a is detected by the frame center sensorS2. Then, the microprocessor 64 controls a mask size drive motor M3 toactuate the variable paper mask 48 to conform with the determined framesize. At the same time, the microprocessor 64 controls anegative-carrier variable slit drive motor M2 to actuate thenegative-carrier variable slit 54.

Based on the frame size signal 12A read by the frame size sensor S1, themicroprocessor 64 controls a film feed motor M1 to rotate the film feelroller 56 for feeding the photographic film 1 for a predeterminedlength. At the same time, the microprocessor 64 controls a paper feedmotor M4 to rotate the paper feed roller 50 for thereby feeding theprint paper 46 for a predetermined length.

FIGS. 16A and 16B show the relationship between the photographic film 1,the frame center sensor S2, and the frame size sensor S1 in theautomatic printer. FIGS. 16C and 16D show the relationship between thephotographic film 1, the hole sensor S3, and the frame size sensor S1 inanother type automatic printer for a film 1, for using the format shownin FIGS. 11F through 11J. When the photographic film 1 is driven in thedirection indicated by the arrow A in FIG. 16A, a frame size indicator12a is detected by the frame size sensor S1 before its frame 3 ispositioned and the sensor S1 output signal is used for controlling thedriving of the photographic film 1, the negative-carrier variable slit54, and the variable paper mask 48. The frame size signal from sensor S1is processed by the microprocessor 64, which determines the frame sizewhen the frame center of the frame 3 is determined by the frame centersensor S2 or by the hole sensor S3.

As shown in FIGS. 16A and 16B, the central mark 40A indicative of aframe center is recorded at each frame on the photographic film 1. Ateach frame, the frame size indicator 12a is recorded ahead of thecentral mark 40a, and the frame number 41a is recorded behind thecentral mark 40a with respect to the direction in which the photographicfilm 1 is driven.

While the frame center sensor S2 and the frame size sensor S1 are shownas being located in substantially the same position, only the framecenter sensor S2 should be positioned in alignment with the center ofthe negative-carrier variable slit 54 and the variable paper mask 48,and the frame size sensor S1 may be positioned on the film deck 53 atthe entrance end thereof. This applies to the magnetic head sensors S1'and S2' as well.

As shown in FIGS. 16C and 16D, the frame size signal 12a is recorded ateach frame on the photographic film 1. The frame size signal 12a and theframe 3 are located a constant distance away from a hole 19. Using theknown relationships of the distance from the hole 3 to the frame sizesignal 12 and the frame 3 the frame center can be found. Thus, the sizeof the frame 3 whose center is found is determined by the microprocessor64 of the control system based on the frame size signal 12a, which isread by the frame size sensor S₁, before the hole 19 is detected by thehole sensor S₃, as shown FIGS. 16C and 16D. In FIG. 16D the frame sizesensor S₁ and the hole sensor S₃ may be exchanged in place based on thecontrol sequence of the microprocessor 64.

FIG. 17A shows a control sequence of the microprocessor 64 forcontrolling the driving of the developed photographic film or negative 1and the driving of the print paper 46. The negative-carrier variableslit 54 and the variable paper mask 48 are also controlled in thiscontrol sequence. The photographic film 1 is continuously driven andtaken up until the central mark 40a is detected by the frame centersensor S2, and then the photographic film 1 is stopped when the centralmark 40a is detected by the frame center sensor S2. Until thephotographic film 1 is stopped, the frame size indicator 12a is detectedby the frame size sensor S1 and its number is counted.

If the frame size indicator 12a represents "3", the width of thenegative-carrier variable slit 54 is set to 38 mm, and the width of thevariable paper mask 48 is set to 119 mm. Thereafter, the print paper 46is moved, and the photographic film 1 is printed, after which thecontrol sequence is ended. The print paper 46 is moved for a distancecorresponding to printed frame sizes, a blank surrounding the printedframes, and a cutting blank between the printed frames. Usually, a holeis defined in the cutting blank when the photographic film 1 is printed,and serves as a positional signal for automatically cutting the printpaper.

If the frame size indicator 12a represents "4", the width of thenegative-carrier variable slit 54 is set to 51 mm, and the width of thevariable paper mask 48 is set to 158 mm. Thereafter, the print paper 46is moved, and the photographic film 1 is printed, after which thecontrol sequence is ended.

If the frame size indicator 12a represents "1" or "2", the widths of thenegative-carrier variable slit 54 and the variable paper mask 48 are setsimilarly. Thereafter, the print paper 46 is moved, and the photographicfilm 1 is printed, after which the control sequence is ended.

Since the frame size indicator 12a is recorded in the upper marginaledge portion of the photographic film 1, it may possibly be recognizedin error as the central mark 40a. To avoid such an error, a negativefeed sensor S3, shown in FIG. 14, for detecting the distance by whichthe photographic film 1 is fed is associated with the film feed motorM1, and the distance by which the photographic film 1 is fed is measuredby a counter 65 whose count is fed back to the microprocessor 64. Sincethe width of the frame size indicator 12a on the photographic film 1 canbe detected by the distance by which the photographic film 1 is driven,the frame size indicator 12a can be distinguished from the central mark40a or the frame number 41a.

FIG. 17B shows a control sequence of the microprocessor 64 for thephotographic film formats shown in FIGS. 11F through 11J. This controlsequence is used for the printer as shown in FIGS. 16C and 16D. Thephotographic film 1 is continuously fed until the hole 19 is detected bythe hole sensor S₃ and the frame size signal 12a is detected by theframe size sensor S₁. Until the photographic film 1 is stopped, theframe size signal 12a is detected by the frame size sensor S₁ and itsnumber is counted. After the photographic film is stopped, a controlsequence of the microprocessor 64 is the same sequence as shown in FIG.17A.

As described above with reference to FIGS. 13, 14, and 16A-16D, theautomatic printer according to the present invention has a film drivecontrol device 65, 64, M1 for detecting an effective exposure areaposition indicator 40a recorded in a marginal edge area between theeffective exposure area 20 on the photographic film 1 and the marginaledge thereof to control the driving of the photographic film 1, and aprinting opening width control device 54, 64, M2 for detecting aneffective exposure area width indicator 12a recorded in the marginaledge area to control the width of the printing opening along thephotographic film 1.

The photographic film 1 has an effective exposure area positionindicator 40a and an effective exposure area width indicator 12a whichare recorded in a marginal edge area between the effective exposure area20 on the photographic film 1 and the marginal edge thereof. After theeffective exposure area width indicator 12a has been detected, theeffective exposure area position indicator 40a is detected. The width ofthe film exposure opening along the photographic film 1, the width ofthe print paper exposure opening, and the distance by which the printpaper 46 is driven are controlled based on the detected effectiveexposure area width indicator 12a, and the distance by which thephotographic film 1 is fed is controlled based on the detected effectiveexposure area position indicator 40a.

Therefore, since the distance by which the photographic film 1 is drivenis controlled based on the effective exposure area position indicator40a recorded in the marginal edge area of the photographic film 1 andthe width of the printing opening, the width of the print paper exposureopening and the distance over which the print paper 46 is driven arecontrolled based on the effective exposure area width indicator 12arecorded in the marginal edge area of the photographic film 1, thephotographic film 1 can automatically be printed even if it has asuccession of frames of different sizes.

In the illustrated photographic camera, the LED 5a and the photodetector5b are disposed in confronting relationship to each other for detectingthe film position detecting holes 19, however, as shown in FIGS. 20A and21, a photocoupler 66, which is an integral combination of an LED and aphotodetector for detecting a film position, may be disposed on a filmguide 30. The photocoupler 66 may be positioned anywhere on the filmguide 30. The photocoupler 66 may have LEDs 41, 40, as shown in FIG. 5,for recording the frame number 41a and the central mark 40a at the sametime that the frame is exposed.

FIG. 20B shows the photographic camera having a photocoupler 66 fordetecting a film position and a LED 12 for recording a frame sizesignal. The camera has two variable masks on both sides of the exposureopening 7' and exposes a frame of the subject on the film 1 as shownFIG. 11G. Similarly, a frame of the subject is exposed on the film 1 asshown in FIGS. 11H and 11I corresponding to the position of thephotocoupler 66 and a LED 12.

While the hole sensor 5 comprises an LED and a photodetector in theillustrated photographic camera, the hole sensor 5 may comprise twopairs of an LED and a photodetector given the different distances bywhich frames of different sizes are fed. A camera having two pairs of anLED and a photodetector is shown in FIG. 20C and an exposed frame of thesubject is shown in FIG. 11F. This camera has two variable masks on bothsides of the exposure opening 7".

In the illustrated automatic printer, the same photographic film containframes of different sizes, however, the present invention is alsoapplicable to an automatic printer for automatically printing a splicedlength of photographic films with different frame sizes.

The present invention uses an exposure control signal magnetically oroptically recorded between an edge of the photographic film and aneffective exposure area of the photographic film. This signal can beused not only by the processor but also by the user, and the user canprint by a simple printer system according to the present invention.This simple home system can be combined with a computer system or atelevision for display. Also, an exposure control signal of the presentinvention may include an auxiliary signal for controlling a printersystem or indicating certain features to the user. Thus, the presentinvention as described above can be used for many applications becauseit avoids using the punched in notch required in previously proposedsystems.

In the illustrated photographic film, the frame size signal is based onan optical mark, however, the photographic film may alternatively have atransparent magnetic ink layer on the surface. The frame size signal canthen be recorded as a magnetic mark on the magnetic ink layer. Thus, inthe camera the frame size recording device 12 may be a magnetic head andin the printer the frame size sensor S₁ may be a magnetic head.

In the illustrated photographic film, the frame size signal is anoptical mark or a magnetic mark as described above, however, the markmay also be a binary or analog data signal. This data signal includeserror correcting data, decoder data for decoding a frame size signal orother signals, and a data synchronizing signal for accurately readingdecoded data and error correcting data.

Having described preferred embodiments of the invention with referenceto the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the inventionis not limited to those precise embodiments and various changes andmodifications could be effected by one skilled in the art withoutdeparting from the spirit or scope of the present invention, as definedin the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A photographic camera comprising:a camera body; a first housing disposed in said camera body for housing a photographic film cartridge containing a photographic film; a second housing disposed in said camera body for housing said photographic film drawn from said photographic film cartridge; film drive means disposed in said camera body for driving said photographic film between said first housing and said second housing and for positioning a frame of said photographic film for exposure by detecting at least a hole located in a marginal area along a first edge of said photographic film, said marginal area having printed thereon film information; exposure means disposed between said first housing and said second housing for exposing an image of a subject to be recorded on said photographic film; and recording means disposed in said camera body for recording first and second binary data signals in a marginal area along a second edge of said photographic film, wherein said first binary data signal indicates aspect information, and said second binary data signal is used for detecting an error in said first binary data signal.
 2. A photographic camera according to claim 1, wherein said recording means records a third binary data signal which is used to synchronize and to read said first and second binary data signals.
 3. A photographic camera comprising:a camera body; a first housing disposed in said camera body for housing a photographic film cartridge containing a photographic film; a second housing disposed in said camera body for housing said photographic film drawn from said photographic film cartridge; film drive means disposed in said camera body for driving said photographic film between said first and second housing and for positioning a frame of said photographic film for exposure by detecting at least a hole located in a marginal area along a first edge of said photographic film, said marginal area having film information printed thereon; exposure means disposed between said first housing and said second housing for exposing an image of a subject to be recorded in a frame of said photographic film; and recording means disposed in said camera body for recording first and second binary data signals in a marginal area along a second edge of said photographic film, wherein said first binary data signal indicates aspect information, an exposure condition, and user input information, and said second binary data signal is used for detecting an error in said first binary data signal.
 4. A photographic camera according to claim 3, wherein said recording means records a third binary data signal which is used to synchronize and to read said first and second binary data signals. 